Flash CS5: The Missing Manual

Editing the Motion Path

When it comes to moving objects around the stage, the motion path rules. That means you need to know how to change the path. As explained back on Making It Move with Motion Tweens, you make symbols move on the stage using the X and Y position properties. If the values change from one property keyframe to the next, then the symbol moves. You set the X and Y properties by moving the playhead to a frame and then moving the object or changing the X and Y properties in the Properties panel. Either way, your symbol moves, and it sprouts a motion path, like the one shown in Figure 3-18.

Moving the Motion Path

Suppose you've got the perfect motion, and everything's working just the way you want. The only problem is that it's on the wrong place on the stage. You can move the entire motion path and the symbol that's being animated in one fell swoop. Here are the steps:

1. With the Selection tool (solid arrow), click anywhere on the motion path.

   The path becomes slightly thicker—that's its version of a selection highlight.

2. Move the cursor over any point on the path.

   The cursor shows the move icon—a cross with four arrows.

3. Click, drag, and then release the mouse button.

   The motion path and the symbol move as a single unit. Once you release the mouse button, the path is in a new location, but everything else about the tween, the timing and the property changes, is the same.

Moving an entire motion path is easy for you, but Flash is working hard behind the scenes. It's changing all ...